The Madras High Court has ordered the Tamil Nadu government to prevent holders of the Tamil University's Diploma in Siddha Medicine from practicing Siddha medicine in the state. This decision came after K Jayakumar, who claimed to have completed the diploma course, filed a petition seeking protection from police interference in his Siddha practice.
Key Points:
The Tamil University's one-year diploma course in Siddha medicine was discontinued in 2008.
Holders of this diploma cannot practice Siddha medicine in the state.
K Jayakumar's petition was dismissed due to a forged diploma certificate.
Concern over Quacks: The judge expressed concern about the potential harm caused by unqualified practitioners.
However, it was discovered that Jayakumar's diploma certificate was forged, leading to the dismissal of his petition. The court directed the police to take action against him under various sections of the IPC and the Tamil Nadu Medical Council Act, 1973.
The Tamil University offered the diploma course in 2007 with provisional recognition from the Indira Gandhi National Open University, but it was discontinued in 2008 due to lack of required faculty and non-compliance with the Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University Act, 1987.
Despite the university's claim that the diploma was for awareness purposes only and not for practicing Siddha medicine, the court expressed concern that 576 students received these certificates.
Although the university claimed that the certificates stated the course was not for practicing Siddha medicine potentially putting society at risk. To address this, the court ordered the health department, police, and Tamil University to ensure that nobody practices Siddha medicine using these diploma certificates.
(Input From Various Sources)
(Rehash/Neha Kamble/MSM)
